Tonight the Nanaimo Timbermen travel to New Westminster to take on the Salmonbellies. Both of these teams will be desperate for a win as both are coming off losses and both teams want to avoid finishing dead last this season.
The Timbermen have struggled all season long as they have gotten off to slow starts in most of their games this year. The Timbermen offense has been a work in progress all year but it has shown hints of improving as Mac Johnson and Cody Bremener have been finding the back of the net for the Timbermen offense and they have found secondary scoring from Paul Brebber and Cayle Ratcliff. If the Timbermen can avoid a slow start in this game they should be able to use their offensive depth to give the Salmonbellies defense a challenge. The Timbermen on paper are evenly matched with the Salmonbellies so it should be a close matchup.
The Salmonbellies this year have yet to find their groove as they have been in some close matchups with the top teams in the league but have been unable to find a way to win. The Salmonbellies have been relying on Jordan McBride so far to carry the offensive load and he has done well so far notching 22 points but if the Salmonbellies want to make a run for the playoffs they need Logan Schuss to step up his game as he only has 11 points in four games and has not been able to duplicate his strong play from last season. The Salmonbellies offense needs to be more potent as Alexis Buque has kept them in games posting a 7.28 goals against average but his offense has been unable to score. The Salmonbellies will want to get off to a quick start against the Timbermen as they have proven incapable of playing from behind this season. If the Salmonbellies can get their offense rolling early Buque should be able to hold off a weak Timbermen offense.
In the end expect the Salmonbellies superior goaltending to be the difference in this game.
